Tag Archives: diesel

In this volume, we visit Ireland to see the variety of steam and diesel services operating in the 1950s and 1960s.
Steam services are shown on the secondary lines at Claremorris and along the western rail corridor serving Ennis, Limerick Junction and on to the south Wexford line to Rosslare, as well as northwards to Wexford Quays. A variety of steam, Metro-Vick and General Motors diesel powered services are seen operating on lines radiating from Dublin and Cork, visiting Mallow, Galway, Sligo and Limerick Junction. Arrivals and departures of the Belfast-Dublin Enterprise expresses are shown in the hands of the Mcintosh GNR(I) V Class 4-4-0 River Class locomotives, which were built by Beyer Peacock in 1948.

Crossing the border into Northern Ireland, stops are made at Goraghwood junction and the port of Warren point and on to Belfast, visiting the engine sheds at Adelaide (Great Northern) and YorkRoad (LMS NCC) in UTA days. Sligo Leitrim tank engines and the Harland and Wolf Harlandic diesel (which was built for the BCDR) are on pilot duties. Suburban services are shown at Bangor and Larne using MED and MPD railcars. A circular tour of Ulster arrives at Londonderry/Derry Foyle Road station via Portadown, Omagh and Strabane, returning to Belfast via the LMS route visiting serving Coleraine, Ballymena and Portrush.

Steam locomotives were used in the construction of the M2 foreshore motorway on the northern shore of Belfast Lough. Northern Ireland Railways used LMSNCC steam locomotives to transport rock fill from Magheramorne Quarry and loading bays on the Larne line. Loading operations are shown in detail together with trains operating along the coastal headlands around Whitehead.

Steam operations are also shown between Derry and Strabane operated by the County Donegal Railway, and on the Ulster Railway route between Belfast to Lisburn celebrating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the railway in 1849.

The programme concludes with summer steam trains to Portrush and diesel locomotive services to Rosslare Europort from the South Wexford line, and from Dublin around Bray Head in County Wicklow.

We start in 1968 near Todmorden with a Black 5 double headed train passing through followed a 1967 visit to Leeds for the last Jubilees. Here we see 45593 “Kolhapur” on a Thames-Clyde Express relief, with footplate scenes of the engine being fired. Then to Stockport to see Royal Scot 46115 “Scots Guardsman” on a service train, the Midland at Mansfield for a 4F leading a Brush Type 4 on a goods train and Market Bosworth with a Standard 2-6-0.

After a brief glimpse of Gloucester Eastgate, we visit the 1 in 37 Lickey Incline area between Bromsgrove, Blackwell and Barnt Green for a variety of banking activities between 1962 and 1967 using combinations of 3F Jinties, ex-GWR pannier 0-6-0Ts, 9Fs and Type 3 diesels. There is even a train being banked by two panniers and a Type 3 diesel! Plus trains hauled by ex-LNER and ex-SR interlopers and a DMU cab ride from Kings Norton to Bromsgrove.

At Bushby shed and Bescot, the last ex-LNWR Super Ds 0-8-0s are in action around the shed and on railtours including at Birmingham New Street. We even see a Peckett shunting at Walsall Gas Works exchange sidings. More railtour views at New Street in steam days contrast with a rail blue era glimpse of a rebuilt New Street with class 86 and 87s.
In London we visit a newly rebuilt Euston station for a 1960s electric arrival. But in earlier times we see a Black 5 on station pilot duties, visit Camden and Willesden sheds and see Royal Scots on the ex-GC main line. We return to the WCML at Roade in Northamptonshire for scenes of various trains passing by followed by a visit to Nuneaton for a Crab on a PW train and Super Ds on freight. Other workings are seen before visiting Tamworth for trains hauled by steam and EE Type 4s.

Crewe is a hive of steam activity with Duchesses, including 46256 “Sir William A Stanier FRS”, Patriots, Jubilees, Britannias and 3F station pilots. A brief glimpse of the future with AL5s passing by! We visit Crewe South Shed for scenes of both steam and diesel motive power.

We travel northwards along the WCML with 8Fs, Black 5s, Jubilees and others to Warrington and its shed including 45221 being coaled. Then to Winwick and along the 4 track main line to Wigan followed by a visit to Walkden Colliery for Austerity 0-6-0T and ex-NSR 0-6-2Ts on coal trains.

We close with views of passing steam trains on the Midland main line at Belper, shed scenes at Bolton, and finally Jubilee 45658 “Keyes” departing Sheffield Midland.

All the archive film used is mainly in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

In this volume, we cover the industrial railways in the South East of England including London. After steam had finished on the main lines, this area still had steam workings at the various industrial sites and for enthusiasts it was the place to visit until the mid 1970s.

We start with a visit to London’s Acton Lane Power Station and saddle tanks “Birkenhead” and “Little Barford” in action complete with wasp stripes on their smokeboxes! At Slough Estates complex, Hudswell Clarke tanks are shunting oil wagons. Mind the cars, there’s just a gap!

In 1972, we visit Rye House power station near Hoddesdon on the ex-GER main line to see RSH tank No.7597 shunting (more wasp stripes!) before witnessing its transport by road (mind those 25kv wires) for preservation on the Stour Valley Railway. Later, we see it in action on the SVR and on the GCR at Loughborough.

Onwards and there are Peckett saddle tanks at Ipswich Sugar factory and at Ford’s Dagenham Works (it had 25 miles of lines), where we see a variety of scenes including the foundry and dockyard.

Next to Chatham Dockyard and a 1980s view of the derelict saddle tanks followed by later preservation scenes with restored “Ajax”. Then to the paper mills at Greenhithe and Gravesend for fireless locos in action in & around the works.

Sittingbourne’s Bowaters Paper Mill had the largest system for paper and we make an extensive visit to it’s narrow gauge railway with mostly pre-preservation views of steam in action on goods as well as passenger trains. Plus views of standard gauge ex-SECR P “Pioneer II”, saddle tank “Jubilee”, the cableway and the dockside.

Onto Swanscombe Cement Works & Quarry in 1968 for Hudswell-Clarke tanks busy shunting cement wagons and then to Snodland Cement Works to see “Hornpipe” in action plus steam at Holborough Quarry with “Tumulus”.

Finally we visit the Kent Coalfield and the collieries at Snowdown and Betteshanger for extensive steam activity with “J94 type” Hunslets (among others), more wasp stripes, loading & unloading of wagons and a Class 73 electro-diesel at the BR exchange sidings.

All the archive film used is virtually all in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

All the archive film used is virtually all in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

The first in a series featuring the lines in East Anglia in the 1960s; from Liverpool Street in London to the North Norfolk Coast, from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness and many more in between.

Steam was eliminated from East Anglia early during the changeover period from steam to diesel and so footage is quite rare. However here we feature a variety of steam scenes as well as some early diesel scenes with both green and blue liveries including some interesting DMU journeys over long lost lines.

In 1970, we witness the early days of preservation at Chappel & Wakes Colne station (now the East Anglian Railway Museum) with the arrival of “Gunby” from Harlaxton Quarry and Fred Youell’s Class N7 0-6-2T No.69621, from Leeds via Lincoln and Colchester.

Early scenes on the North Norfolk Railway contrast vividly with more recent steam at Sheringham and Holt. There is some interesting DMU activity around Cromer Beach.

We journey over the Marks Tey to Sudbury line in 1967 with DMUs and visit Wisbech, Kings Lynn, Hunstanton, Ipswich and Yarmouth, with scenes over the years from 1967 to the present day.

Locomotives seen include Britannia’s, J15s and ex-LMS and Standard tank engines on the Southend Line. A veritable miscellany!

All the archive film used is in colour and an authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.

This is our second volume featuring the Southern Region “Withered Arm” in the West Country and starts with scenes along the SR main line to Exeter Central including railtours with 60022 Mallard, T9 No.120 and BR Standard Tanks on the “Exeter Flyer”.

We travel along the North Devon line to Barnstaple and then northwards pausing at Braunton to see the Mortehoe bankers at work with a variety of passing trains before arriving at Ilfracombe for views of the station and the harbour. A paddleboat ferry departs for Bristol!

Back to Barnstaple with a Hymek and glimpses of Rolles Quay Sidings, Pottingham swing bridge, Town station with its erstwhile L & B platform, the Taw viaduct (with steam footage) and into Barnstaple for scenes around the station and the shed. After closure we see footage of the now derelict viaduct, Town station and swing bridge.
There is extensive coverage of the Torrington line with Class 25s & 31s on milk, china clay and special trains plus the comings & goings at Fremington Quay and Instow including many scenes inside the signal box. At Bideford and Torrington we see activities in both steam and diesel eras, with Ivatt 2-6-2Ts, SR Moguls and Classes 22 & 25.

Next, along the ex-SR Devon main line with diesel hauled ballast trains at Yeoford & Sampford Courtenay, before arriving at Okehampton for steam with SR Moguls, Ivatt 2MTs and BR Standard 2-6-4Ts plus later diesel scenes.

We travel onto the North Cornwall line at Meldon Junction and at Halwill Junction visit the Bude branch with steam plus green DMUs. Then onwards to Wadebridge for extensive footage of T9s, ex-GWR 1369 panniers, BR standard tanks, Bulleid Pacifics and the Beattie tanks at Wenford Bridge and Pencarrow Woods before arriving at Padstow.
Finally, we return to the ex-SR main line at Bere Alston for a trip along the Gunnislake branch to Callington with Ivatt 2-6-2Ts and close with steam scenes at Exeter Central, including Class Z bankers, and at Salisbury.

All the archive film used is mainly in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

Click Here for Vol.165 – Along Southern Lines Part 4Click Here for Vol.158 – Along Southern Lines Part 3Click Here for Vol.150 – Along Southern Lines Part 2Click Here for Vol.142 – Along Southern Lines Part 1

In this fourth part of our series, we mainly cover the railways in South Wales and mostly in the days of steam between 1960 and 1965. We feature many of the 0-6-2T and 8-coupled types famous for their use in this part of Wales.

After a few brief scenes in 1960 at Towyn on the Cambrian, we visit the South Wales main line at Pilning for views of double-headed coal trains. Then to Cardiff for 0-6-2Ts, 2-8-0s, Prairies & Pannier tanks and even an 8F interloper from Toton! There is extensive footage of a 1964 SLS “Farewell to Brecon” tour, first with 0-6-2T 6606 via Abercynon and Quakers Yard to Merthyr, then onwards to Pontsticill and Brecon with pannier 3690 plus newly preserved 2-6-2T 4555. We return via Dowlais.

A brief fast-forward to 1977 and the last Western diesel hydraulics on railtours to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr & Pontypridd.

Back in the 1960s, we visit the NCB collieries at Maerdy, Merthyr Vale and Mountain Ash to see ex-GWR pannier tanks including now preserved 9600 and 7754. But at Cashmores, the scrapman is busy…

We return to Cardiff for more 2-8-0Ts, Castles and 9Fs before travelling along the South Wales main line to Ebbw Jct. There are busy scenes at Newport and on the main line before reaching Severn Tunnel Junction. Further along we pass the Severn Road Bridge under construction and arrive at Gloucester, for scenes there in 1962 & 1964.

The Vale of Neath line ran from Pontypool Road. We see a lot of activity around Pontypool and visit Hafodyrynys mine for its Hunslet 0-6-0STs. Crossing the 200ft high Crumlin Viaduct, there are spectacular views of the valley below. The demolition of the viaduct is witnessed in 1967. Then to Hengoed, Treharris, Quaker’s Yard and Mountain Ash Colliery (for its saddle tanks), before arriving at Neath.

We visit Duffryn Yard depot on our way to Swansea, where in 1965 we join the last steam hauled special to Fishguard and Milford Haven with 6859 “Yiewsley Grange”. Plus some footage of the Tenby branch in 1960 with Prairies and Panniers. We conclude Part 4 with B&W and colour scenes at Cardiff Canton shed just before closure.

All the archive film used is mainly in colour and an extensively researched commentary along with an authentic soundtrack has been added.

Click Here for Vol.70 – Along GWR Lines Part 1 – Paddington to OxfordClick Here for Vol.78 – Along GWR Lines Part 2 – Oxford to CardiffClick Here for Vol.89 – Along GWR Lines Part 3 – Cardiff to Penzance

“Steam Routes” is a series of films featuring steam traction along specific routes rather than areas and mostly using previously unseen archive film from the 1960s. Here our third instalment features the West Coast Main Line starting at Lancaster for the 40 mile journey to Shap Summit.

At Lancaster Castle station (WCML) there are many scenes of steam activity and over at Lancaster Green Ayre we also see 3-car EMUs on the ex-MR Heysham line electric services. We pay a short visit to the Morecambe to Heysham line with Black 5s on service and special trains plus Lostock Hall breakdown train attending a derailment.

Back to the WCML with footage at Hest Bank and its troughs. Many steam hauled trains pass with some picking up water. Overflowing tenders plus a line side fire!

We make an extensive visit to Carnforth and its shed with operations there mainly in 1967 and 1968 when Stanier Black 5s and BR Standards were being serviced in quantity, including the last few Britannias and 9Fs. There are many scenes and even include the odd diesel: a Clayton Class 17, a blue Class 40 and Metrovick Co-Bo D5714. Scenes at the station include Bulleid 35012 “United States Lines” on a special and Britannia 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” on a service train. Plus a brief glimpse of preserved ex-LNER B1 61306 in a siding!

We continue through Oxenholme to climb to Grayrigg, Low Fell and Dillicar. A view of the troughs from the 4ft!. Tebay was the shed for the bankers over Shap and there is much footage of the variety of passing trains, including doubleheaders and with assisting banking engines, before we finally arrive at Shap Summit. The occasional Princess Coronation (both red and green), Royal Scot and Jubilee are also seen but the climb on the 1-in-75 incline is very well covered with this new archive footage.

The Western Region of BR adopted diesel hydraulic traction rather than diesel electric. Nearly 400 examples, both express, mixed traffic and shunting were introduced from the late 1950s. By 1977 they had all gone, save for a few preserved examples.

We start with the original A1A-A1A D600 Warship Class 41 and a short B&W sequence of D600 leaving Paddington with an express and then passing Par. A D6xx in green with a yellow warning panel passes Lostwithiel and along Dawlish Sea Wall. Green D601 “Ark Royal” on shed contrasts starkly to a later scene on the Barry scrap line with blue liveried D600 “Active”.

The Class 42/43 Warships, in both maroon and green, are seen on the GW Main Line & in the West Country including scenes at Dawlish, Penzance and Par. Over to Waterloo for Warships of all colours including a short cab ride in D809 “Champion” as it departs. Back to Paddington for Warships double-heading, a blue Warship crossing Saltash Bridge and green D850 at St.Erth.

Inside Swindon Works for views of Class 52 Westerns being built. A rare shot of Desert Sand “Western Enterprise”. The comings & goings of a vast variety of maroon and blue Westerns on expresses at Paddington, out on the GW Main Line, Bristol, Dawlish Sea Wall, Newton Abbott, Plymouth and Penzance plus freight trains in the snow and china clay trains. Also featured are a number of rail tours such as “The Western Talisman” from Kings Cross and the “Western Finale”. Over 30-mins of pure Western nostalgia!

On to Class 35 Hymeks and with b/w film we peek inside the Beyer-Peacock works during their construction. Out on the main line and green and blue Hymeks on a variety of passenger trains including double-heading with steam.

We see NBL D63xx Class 22s shunting at Coleford and Boscarne Junction plus extensive footage of D6346 shunting at Charlbury! Scenes from a bygone era. Look out for the man with the pole!

Finally, the Class 14 0-6-0 “Teddy Bears” and shunting at Coleford Junction and Lydney with D9555. Many Class 14s were sold into industry and we feature No.28 in industrial use.

We close our film with a Western, heading into the sunset…

Apart from a few early scenes in black and white, most of the footage is in colour and the film has an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.

The second part in our series featuring scenes of the former Great Western Railway using archive film from the 1920s all the way to the diesel hydraulic era in the 1960s. In this part we mostly feature the freight and mixed-traffic classes, from the large 2-8-0 class 42xx and 72xx 2-8-2 tank engines used in Wales, through to the Prairie 2-6-2T and the Pannier 0-6-0Ts which were unique to the GWR, including the condensing varieties and the last 84xx series, on both passenger and freight trains. The tender classes are covered in more depth than in our first volume, ranging from the heavy freight 2-8-0s to the mixed-traffic 4-6-0 Hall classes. We also feature the 43xx 2-6-0s and the 2251 class 0-6-0s. The GWR also ran extensive maritime services and we show footage of the Fishguard and Weymouth operations. There are scenes of steam all over the GWR network with normal service trains and special rail tours. We conclude with footage of the first locomotive to exceed 100mph, 4-4-0 No.3440 “City of Truro”, newly restored and running on preserved lines plus the replica broad gauge engines at Didcot Railway Centre.

Apart from a few scenes, filmed in the 1930s and 1940s, all the material is in colour and the film has an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.

The fourth in our series of films on the East Coast Main Line in the 1960s. There is much steam coverage but this is also a story of the transition from the steam age to the diesel age when Deltics came into service followed by the HSTs. We start with the Great Northern section and Kings Cross where there are many scenes of steam traction before it mostly finished south of Peterborough in 1963. All pacific classes are seen as well as V2 and B1 classes and occasional specials including one with a GWR Castle. We travel north through Finsbury Park, Harringay, Hornsey and through Hitchin to Peterborough. Onwards and further north to Doncaster, Langwith and Frodingham & Scunthorpe, for scenes of many of the ex-LNER freight types. Now onto the former North Eastern Region with visits to Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford before returning to the East Coast line for Otterington (Northallerton). We arrive at Newcastle for the demise of North Eastern steam. Tours around this area include the Stanhope branch with K4 3442 “The Great Marquess” and some scenes of the Alnwick branch in Northumberland. The film has excellent detail with an authentic sound track and a highly researched and informative commentary. Locations are mostly filmed in colour but there is some black and white footage from 1962 and 1963. Green and blue Deltics are included and even a Western Region hydraulic on it’s one tour. There are also a few Type 2 diesels!

All in colour with an authentic sound track and a highly researched and infomative commentary.

Jim Clemens Collection No.29. The first in a series featuring scenes of the former Great Western Railway using archive film from the 1920s all the way to the diesel hydraulic era in the 1960s. In this part we predominately feature express classes. The early GWR scenes are a complete contrast to steam on the Western Region in its last five years from 1960 to 1965 and this production is appropriate for the 175th anniversary year of the GWR.

We start with a prelude of the broad gauge using the 1935 and 1985 re-enactments followed by extensive and detailed footage of the King, Castle and County 4-6-0 express classes. There are many scenes of these locomotives taken from all over the territories of the former GWR and Western Region of British Railways. From Paddington in London to Penzance in the Far West; to Worcester & Birmingham in the Midlands; to Swindon & Bristol; these are just few of the many locations visited.

There are special events, tours and normal service train workings of both passenger and freight over this well loved railway. A short sequence features the early diesel hydraulics with D600s, Warships & Westerns.

As a preview of Part 2, we conclude with views of Halls, Granges, Manors, Dukedogs, 2-8-0, 2-8-2T & 47xx freight classes & panniers plus a visit to the narrow gauge Welshpool and Llanfair line.

Older scenes are in black and white but the majority is in colour. An extensively researched commentary has been added along with an authentic sound track.

The first of two videos covering the lines in an area north of Shrewsbury to Chester. This video features the line to Crewe as far as Willaston via Whitchurch, the Shrewsbury to Gobowen line and the Gobowen to Oswestry and Blodwell line. Archive film of steam traction is shown on these routes including ex-GWR and Standard classes. There is also footage of some of the main line steam hauled tours in the 1970s.
We visit the signalboxes at Shrewsbury, Leaton, Whittington and Gobowen , observing the passing railway scene featuring both steam and diesel traction in the 1960s and early 1970s. At Gobowen the steam archive footage takes us south to Llanymynech with a look at the Shopshire & Montgomery and its last steam hauled tour. There is also extensive lineside and cab views of the diesel hauled stone trains from Gobowen to Blodwell Quarry. The traffic ceased in 1989. All film and video material used is in colour except for the Shropshire and Montgomery scenes. An authentic soundtrack has been added along with an extensively researched commentary.

An archive film covering the railways in Central Scotland from LARBERT to GLASGOW BUCHANAN STREET when A4 pacifics such as 60007 “Sir Nigel Gresley” ran on Glasgow to Aberdeen duties. Other motive power is also shown on this route. We then visit BEDLAY colliery with steam motive power before moving to the FIFE area on lines from DUNFERMLINE to THORNTON JCT, MARKINCH, ALLOA and ALVA. The “Aberdonian” railtour using two ex-NBR J37s is featured. Two collieries at KINNEIL and DYSART are seen in the Fife coalfields followed by a visit to the now closed LOCHTY Railway in the 1970s. From PERTH to DUNDEE in steam days with its variety of motive power in the mid 1960s. At Dundee, although diesel hauled, the Royal Train is seen. Finally over the TAY and FORTH bridges to EDINBURGH WAVERLEY.Among the steam motive power typicial of this area are 0-6-0 freight types through to WD, Black 5, B1, V2, A2, A4 and Standard 5s including Caprotti examples along with the preserved Scottish locomotives Nos. 246, 256 and 673 on railtours when out on the main line and branch lines.

The valleys of Wales once supplied coal to the world. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, some collieries were still shunted by steam locomotives.
Here in our second volume featuring these collieries, we portray steam at MAERDY, MERTHYR VALE, ELLIOT, TY MAWR, CYM, MARINE, BENYON BLAINA, CELYNON NORTH, CELYNON SOUTH, HAFODYRYNYS, TAL Y WAIN, BLAENAVON and TREDEGAR.

We see examples of industrial locomotives from five different builders as well as ex-GWR tanks, 9600, 9792 and 7754, in all weather conditions from sun to winter snow.

Horse worked mines are also visited. These used narrow gauge track and at DARRAN open cast site we see horse traction being used before the arrival of steam.

Both steam and diesel BR motive power served the valleys and we record the various comings and goings of coal trains.

All filmed in colour by enthusiasts who found these industrial locations both fascinating and friendly after the demise of BR steam in the valleys of Wales.

A video covering the last section of the route of the CAMBRIAN COAST EXPRESS from ABERYSTWYTH to PWLLHELI and what could be seen in the area from the 1950s to the 1980s. We cover four narrow gauge railways, the Vale of Rheidol, the Talyllyn, the Welsh Highland (1964) and the Ffestiniog, and two miniature railways, the Fairbourne and Butlins, Pwllheli. We even cover the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway!

The coast route would see steam and diesel motive power but this film is mainly steam with Standard Classes 4MT, Class 2MT, Class 3 2-6-2Ts and Class 4 2-6-4Ts, GWR 43xx 2-6-0s and Manor Class 4-6-0s, Ivatt 2MTs and even Class 4. The picture is completed by the reopening of Barmouth Bridge in 1986 and Electric Electric Class 37s.

There is much truly archive material used in this production recapturing a bygone era of this popular Cardigan Bay coastal area. The lines still survive today so compare the scenes of that era shown here with modern day or witness the efforts made by the preservations to recreate it.

There is an extensively researched commentary with an authentic sound track.